My Friends
Animals are the best companions. Animals are my friends. Acquaintances (old and new) are my martial arts buddies, fellow activists, colleagues.
An injured butterfly that flew to my work. I took it home and made a house on my balcony, gave it food (fruit) and some water. The next day it flew away
I took these photos with a butterfly that flew into the house. He enjoyed being in the picture
Was on my way to work when I saw this little bee stumbling around. He walked slower than me because my leg was bothering me. So I decided to bring the bee to my house so it could gain strength on my balcony
The photos were taken in Krimpen aan den IJssel in 2020, at work on the first floor. The photo with the ring was when I was working in Delft in 2014, when the butterfly flew in through the window on the fourth floor.
friends on my balcony (for years)
adult blackbird stays overnight on the balcony and stays for dinner and breakfast
When I looked on my balcony to see where the blackbird was and saw that it had really flown away, I heard someone calling to me again. This time under the balcony
street pigeons, sometimes I find young ones and sometimes stringfoot pigeons in bad condition, I then take them away to people who take care of them
a fox in Amsterdam
a butterfly in my mother's garden and some butterflies in a butterfly garden
My mother's cat. I asked her to look after Mika's grave. When I asked, she walked over to me and touched me with her paw on my chin like Mika did every day. The cat never did this before, and has never done it again. Very special..
a cat attacked a rat. I took them apart. we became friends, the cat came by every day until his death. RIP Tommy
Guest cat, temporary (year) from a friend of my son. Roger is the name of the cat. Always enthusiastic and theatrical, likes to listen when I sing, always follows me and always listens to his name. His 'owner' comes to visit him now and then and always brings something because I take care of his cat. Sweet
In Croatia I saw this ant mourning his friend for a long time. And in the Netherlands I once heard a high-pitched sound. I looked for where it came from and found a small, tiny cricket in the corner behind a door on the first floor at work. He was screaming loudly because his friend was tangled in dust and couldn't move. I gently freed the dust from the legs with a toothpick and when the animal was free, the two of them hopped out the door. So you see that even though they are so small, even the smallest creatures have feelings. Know grief. Camaraderie. Cheerfulness.
These sweet chickens (and roosters) were super tame and just dumped on an industrial estate.
Luckily they were at my house on the coldest night, I took them with me and then they found a nice home thanks to Trini from Stichting Zwerfkip.
Because of this rooster who came by one day and sat right under the heated display case where the best-selling chicken curry rolls were placed, I stopped preparing and selling animal meat for good.
Chicken in the chicken sandwich video here (right) was another chicken that showed up many years ago and took a nap sitting on the sandwich. Another time a dumped? chicken randomly showed up at the doorstep was only because she wanted to die in peace. She sat elegantly down, closed her eyes and slowely entered the rainbow bridge.
Seen this child so often on my walking route. It was left behind by the owners, but the new old resident lovingly took it over
Max the rooster was my friend. He was very sweet, very tame. He had been dumped but walked around for years on a property where he didn't harm anyone. Max had a family that he showed and I also got to know his children. Until one day the municipality just picked up the animals and gassed them (I heard afterwards). Poor Max didn't have a chance, he was so sweet and tame, he would have just walked along with them. Humans are callous, greedy creatures, they kill anything that doesn't speak their language.
a half-blind rooster came by every day to get food. until the day came when I knew someone who could give the animal a better life. Now he is no longer chased by cars and dogs, but lives like a king on a piece of land with only some chickens around him.
always provided snacks for my son's dog, it was fun to see which ones he would choose
I remember all my doggo friends
This cat's name is Freddy. If I walk past his street and want to take the metro, and it is raining, I ring the front doorbell of his house when it rains. Because there is no cat flap. Freddy is always happy to see me.
Neighbourhood Doggo
Animals from family members, friends
Animal-worthy existence
For example, if I was working somewhere and I see that the fish are neglected, I will take care of them until they are in a larger enclosure that is clean and green. This was the case at a few companies, including at a company that originally had chickens running around. That is no longer the case because chickens do not belong indoors. They should be allowed to walk around freely in a yard. I have had many animals in my home overnight to take them to a better life the next day